Tetanus Vaccine Shortage Cripples Lahore Hospitals, Patients Face Risks

Lahore, Pakistan: There is a severe shortage of tetanus vaccine in Lahore, due to which patients with injuries are at risk of potentially fatal infections. The life-saving vaccination which is essential to avoid tetanus after a wound is not available at medical stores and major hospitals in the city.

The issue is continuing for the last 2 months and patients are in extreme anxiety and distress. Doctors were continuously stressing the golden time of 72 hours to provide an anti-tetanus injection after grievous injury, indicating the urgency of the situation.

According to a doctor at a leading hospital in Lahore, we are getting a lot of patients with injuries who need the tetanus shot but we don’t have it. “That’s is a very serious concern because tetanus can be fatal,” he added.

The Health department of Punjab will also look into the matter now, Minister Khawja Salman Rafiq talking to private news channels said that vaccine is under testing and it will be available in the market within a month. He further said that there is no need to panic.

“Minister Rafiq said that they know about the shortage and they are working to ensure the availability of the vaccine as soon as possible,”